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This Girl Can - Champions Blog

It's all in the title, this post is most definitely overdue. My last post was back in May! The months have just merged… I am a very busy lady, what more can I say? Well this will hopefully get you up to speed, the overview on all that's been happening and my there has been a lot happening...

Taking you back to May I travelled to Switzerland again this year for the IPC Swiss Race Series as funded by the Matt Hampson Foundation. The support of the foundation has been and continues to be an essential in my athletic development. Switzerland is challenging there is no doubt about that but as you know I like a challenge. Switzerland is also an impressive environment, an opportunity to be surrounded by and compete with so many world class athletes. Switzerland saw me better my world rankings and achieve personal bests in all events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m) My highlight was that 5k reducing my time from 17.54.03 (2014) to 16.18.15. Pushed on my own at that, great fun!

Sadly my efforts were not enough for me to represent at the Para Athletics World Championships London 2017 and I can't say I didn't want to be pushing alongside those ladies representing Great Britain because I did. That aside my training continued and it was incredible to spectate. A reminder of what was having made my Great Britain debut on that very track in 2015 then racing again for the Müller Anniversary Games last year and great motivation to continue working hard. My final racing meet of this year was Godiva Classic always wonderful to finish on the track I call home. I am super happy to see that progress is being made and all is going in the right direction.

After the Godiva Classic for a little while I continued to train and decided it was best for me to take a break, time to recover before beginning some solid winter training. I splashed my way back into swimming and found great excitement in cycling around the track, a welcomed changed that's for sure. Soon after that it was time to get back in that race chair of mine. I have now finished my apprenticeship and when I am not training or searching for that all important ideal job I have been keeping myself occupied with the following:

Pushing my way down a catwalk as part of the 'I Love Me Project' designed to promote the importance of disabling stereotypes of disability to then recognising and celebrating the achievements and courage of those that are 65 plus involving themselves in sport and physical activity through the LRS initiative 'Feel Alive from 65' It was a privilege to attend the celebration event and meet such wonderful people. Congratulations to you all keep up the good work! My next stop was to fulfil an invitation to speak to KS3 pupils at Granby Primary School, to link in with their 'Who Inspires You' studies. It's was such a joy to speak to all the children and staff. Such positivity and interest! A fantastic opportunity for myself to not only explain the importance of sport and physical activity but to talk openly about disability as a positive and encourage, motivate and inspire the children to accomplish their very best. Thank you Granby Primary you were brilliant!

For the time being winter is most certainly here. I do enjoy my training and I have great faith that the best is yet to come! I won't leave it quite so long next time.

Thank you to everyone that continues to support my athletics adventure. For more details on those that support me or if you or someone you know would like to support me please visit www.paigemurrayathlete.co.uk

A new race season has officially begun. I can't quite believe how fast it's come around again. My 4th season... Wow! Time flies. I love being out on the track and its greatly appreciated having brilliant people on board my adventure believing in me. YES ME. How wonderful, supporting me to be my very best. I have launched my website with the help of the Matt Hampson Foundation a BIG THANK YOU for your ongoing support. Fantastic to have you on board #TEAMSOOTY. www.paigemurrayathlete.co.uk An opportunity for those interested to keep up to date with my athletics adventure and to gain further support going forward from those willing to invest in my mission. THANKS also to British Athletics for nominating for SportsAid funding I am delighted to announce that this was successful as a result I am part of the Winners Of Tomorrow (WOT) programme HUGE THANKS to SportsAid and MyLotto24 a real privilege. More information about all those who support me on my website.The excitement continues... I attended Choices Unlimited power by LCiL partnered up with Invictus Active to demo the all new Active Trainer, promote my progression and encourage others to get active with sport and physical activity #GYA Back to Stoke Mandeville Stadium at the weekend for my first race meet of 2017. Always lovely to be there, takes me back to where my excitement for sport began! Stoke Mandeville Junior Games. Such fun... #NeverForgetYourBeginings For the competition, a steady start with plenty more in left in the tank. Until next time. Thanks for reading.

March arrived, beginning with more PB's in the gym, always helps to focus knowing and seeing the achievements of one's self. Supporting further progression and raising ambition. It was fabulous to attend the Six Nations Dinner for Matt Hampson Foundation, an EPIC atmosphere for a incredible cause, what a privilege to be part of such a united team #TeamHambo #GetBusyLiving an astonishing amount raised, changing lifes and bringing hope. Inspiring in more ways than one and a real motivational boost. This month has also brought opportunity to become a champion for LRS This Girl Can campaign. A role I gladly excepted, I am so proud to be supporting this campaign. "I am delighted to be a champion, a real privilege to be involved in such a brilliant and encouraging initiative. It is fantastic to be able to support woman and girls to embrace sport and physical activity. Sport creates huge IMPACT, every girl CAN and deserves to experience the positive benefits that sport has to offer." I've been told too many times I can't and proved many wrong so to help others find that they CAN is great! Lastly I am pleased to say I have been awarded the most improved wheelchair racer over the 2016 race season for Coventry Godiva Harriers. Extremely happy to have been recognised, for my progression. Thank you #TeamGodivas #GoGodivasGo! Here to more hard work, training and competing. Excited! My adventure continues...

Two months into 2017 already, time continues to fly. Every year brings new challenges and achievements. What a brilliant start. My first challenge, continuing my ability to manage my time effectively. Three months in my new job and managing the balance of new working hours alongside training is somewhat demanding and testing at times. Never the less a skill that will I am sure benefit me now and in years to come so no matter how testing I will embrace it! Winter training is now well underway, a constant reminder that those small steps make a big difference. Last month I received continued sponsorship from Trout trailer-hire and gained a grant from the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund both of which will support with my strength and conditioning development Thank you for being on board my athletics adventure!

Good news kept on coming... I successfully PASSED my driving test - The world of independence has expended. It will certainly help me, and make travelling around a lot easier. It feels amazing. Giving goes along way and hard work brings reward I am extremely grateful. Many things to look forward to in the months leading to race season. http://trout.uk.com/http://www.rpmf.org.uk/

My adventure continues, my BEST season to date! After welcoming that eagerly awaited racing chair at the end of last year. I got to race with Sweep for the first time this season, what fun it's been. Sweep has transformed and maximised my athletics abilities, making the world of difference to my performances this season. I hope this will be so for a few more seasons yet, three amazing years, two competing internationally and for each one of them my excitement, happiness and enthusiasm heightens.

No adventure is the same, but this one belongs to me lots has happened all of which have had individual purpose. I have achieved beyond every aim this season, experienced many additional opportunities, "Paige Murray Athlete" has gone live to promote my hard work, commitment, successes and drive to better myself to my absolute best as well as making significant progression over my three events.

Then there is the travelling, it opened my eyes to many wonderful things, firstly Switzerland Nottwil incredible! Then Amsterdam, what a whirlwind that was, however I can't forget the serval competitions in the UK I am hugely grateful for all I have learnt. How better to express that gratitude than capturing the minds of young people, our next generation. WISPA an event to reach out to year 9 girls, a variety of sports to demonstrate that girls can do and be successful in Physical Education and Sport #TheseGirlCan. Just like we all can! Well done and congratulation to you all! #WISPAGirls2016

The greatness follows on "The Impact of Rio". The brilliance of our Team GB athletes this summer not to be missed remarkable it was, I watched not as a spectator but as an athlete, amazing to see such talent! Witnessing moments of excellence helped me to find an added focus on my personal path. I understand there is a right time for everything, for any athlete the ultimate achievement is to be on that world stage. I believe appreciating those steps along the way has great importance, creating a stronger athlete.

Circumstances however challenging must not determine who a person is and what they achieve, I am doing all I can to succeed my dreams and ambitions. I will soon be starting my new job to help with growing expense of athletics and living costs. Ongoing support is a priority, to secure funding and sponsorship would allow me continue the very sport I love without worry and compromise because of costs, I have continued to remain positive, that's me.

Last week, the news, the BEST news ever! That I have received funds (a contribution to my yearly expenditures) A weight lifted, Matt Hampson confirmed that himself and his foundation are so pleased to be investing in me, and my sporting endeavours. I am pinching myself, overwhelmed with emotions. Wow! So Thankful… I am immensely proud to be associated with the foundation. I definitely have a busy year ahead of me, EXCITING stuff. Encapsulating "Get Busy Living" to the max.

Life has been all go in the previous months and the coming weeks are set to be the same. Since my last blog all too long ago another race weekend came in the form of Coventry Godiva Classic. Racing on that track a track that has become my home was fantastic! My Godiva family really are the best, I thank you all I am extremely proud of such a great group of people and one amazing coach Job King. The weekend saw many positives a huge personal best in the 200m and I managed consistent times in both the 100m and 400m. A brilliant meet and an opportunity to compete alongside some of the world's best athletes in the lead up to Rio. The Paralympics is now well underway, a true spectacular showcase of tremendous talent. I am beyond proud and super excited! Congratulations to team GB you are amazing. I look forward to your return home and will share my thoughts "The Impact of Rio" nearer that time. Keep powering through and saver each success.

For me training continues. I thrive on hard work, and I am not stopping until I am my very best. It is such good fun I do love it! Aside from my training efforts I have been busy doing my up most to promotion "Paige Murray Athlete" in the hope that I can gain ongoing support to help with all things athletic. To mix it up a little I completed 10k at The Olympic Park for the Parallel London event a few weeks back in support of Matt Hampson Foundation #GetBusyLiving rather more challenging in a regular wheelchair… enjoyable of course.

I can't quite believe that come this Saturday I will say farewell to the 2016 racing season, for now I will rest up and get set for race day.

I still have to pinch myself! It is just an incredible feeling to be on that start line representing my country that is Great Britain. I feel extremely humble and fortunate to have had the opportunity to fulfil a dream, something that I will continue to remind myself of as I strive to go further because sometimes it is all too easy to forget how far one has come. I found myself back at that iconic track. The Olympic Park Stadium for The Muller Anniversary Games, this time for the 100m. A big thank you to British Athletics for allowing me to compete. That moment goes within a blink of an eye and as I crossed that finish line it was just surreal and then for the anticipation waiting for that time to appear… One day I will finish with a smile! (Rather than that shocked look of disbelief "Did I just do that?!") The time wasn't as I had hoped but I value every experience, learning continuously. It was great to watch the race back, performance analysis is always welcome and certainly supports my development.

Today I returned to Bedford International Athletics Stadium for The England Championships having qualified to compete in the 100m and 800m. What a positive day it has been. My second best time ever in the 100m .02 of a second away from my PB and 1 second outside my PB for the 800m so feeling satisfied with both performances. I am ready to achieve my very best, today's results were just the reminder I needed. For now my training continues and I prepare for my next competition. I am far from finished! Once again I look forward to all that is to come... Don't you just love happy Days.

Amsterdam European Championships, for the first time in history a series of Paralympic events were welcomed at these championships. An invite I gladly excepted, an opportunity that was not to be missed. I can honestly say I don't think I've ever experienced quite so many emotions in four days... A week on I am happy to be home and reflect on such a whirlwind. Having had "My 5 days of brilliance" and overcome personal challenges to fulfil this opportunity. I was relieved to arrive safely. This an example that anything CAN be achieved. #YesICan! Leading up to that 100m sprint there was excitement and lots of positivity, what more could I want ahead of my biggest race to date?! In this sport as in all sports and in life for that matter things can go in all directions from what was planned. Race day arrived and it seemed to throw everything at me. All the things that were not going to happen happened. After the race, disappointment and emptiness because that's what happens when you know you can do better! #MyOwnWorseCritic #TooCriticalAtTimes but with that said I am thankful that with every experience lessons are learnt both personal and athletics related. Being on an international stage gives me pride and happiness and for every competition encouragement to keep going. It was a phenomenal atmosphere in the very stadium that hosted the 1928 Olympics with great support. A fabulous welcome from organisers and athletes, the surroundings in which I stayed were a world away from what I am use to. I certainly embraced my time in Amsterdam, overall it really was amazing! Many thanks to all those involved. Lastly please come and join me this July at Highcross Leicester, their pop up shop doors are opening once again. LCiL is back this time with their Get Yourself Active campaign. I will be there on Tuesday 19th 9am. Thursday 21st 10am - 12pm and Monday 25th 10am - 12pm. You will find us situated at the Church Gate entrance. Hope to see you all there!

My 5 days Of BRILLIANCE... Day 1. Motivational Monday. First time for everything... My strength and conditioning session resulted in me achieving a HANDSTAND for the first time ever. Such an AMAZING feeling, a fabulous start to my "5 Days Of Brilliance" A reminder that hard work and determination gets positive outcomes. Day 2. Tremendous Tuesday. Saw me go back to school, such a privilege to speak to Avenue Primary School pupils in their morning assembly. A great Q&A, such a JOY to give back to a school that gave me so much. Extremely proud to present a framed article, photo and race number of mine to show my appreciation for their continued support. Day 3. Wonderful Wednesday. Wonderful because training demonstrated that things are moving in the right direction. Patience really goes go a long way... Very pleased with myself! Day 4. Thoughtful Thursday. Time to process and focus my thoughts taking some much appreciated rest ahead my travels on this Day 5. Fearful yet fantastic Friday. Mixed emotions because I have had to face personal challenges. With that in mind I can't help but feel fantastic! I am now READY to embrace the opportunity that is The Amsterdam European Championships Para Series #ECH16 #100mSprint. Next Stop Amsterdam...

Nottwil was absolutely incredible, what a week it was. Beyond anything I had imagined, the oversees competitive environment is still a reasonably new experience for me as I have only done this once before last year in Grosseto Italy. No one competition is the same, so that in itself is always rather exciting! This event saw over three hundred and fifty athletes from thirty different countries.

Leading up to this event there was a lot of anticipation, so much more than a competition I wasn't sure what to expect, as ever through an opportunity I welcomed. The feeling of relief once I had arrived was lovely. I settled in nicely, making myself at home very quickly. Prior to the competition I familiarised myself with the track and enjoyed training in my new surroundings. As well as speaking with the many athletes great fun, a wonderful atmosphere and ideal preparation ahead of the races.

I was certainly ready! Four days, six races and three events, fantastic! After all this I am extremely happy to say I achieved four personal bests (PB) over all three of my events (100m, 400m and 800m). Like all athletes there are things I need to work on to better myself, I will never shy away from that. In reflection I am proud that my performances demonstrated my improvements it is rewarding and encouraging. My 400m final was the most surprising of all, coming over that finish line with a win! (Given that there were four athletes quicker than me) I got a PB too. Another highlight has to be my 800m, I knocked off over eight seconds from my previous time. Amazing! I finished in the top 10 overall so delighted.

Amongst all of this I have learnt about myself, expanded on my knowledge and gain personal confidence. A great learning curve much appreciated and a big impact, one I am sure moving forward will support my progression and development. A huge thank you to all involved in this event organisers, officials etc. A special mention for Job King, top coach as always! To TEAM GB for such encouragement and enthusiasm, to Team Coventry Godiva Harriers for such good team work, help, support and laughter and my mum for believing in and loving me always. Thank you.